England Saxons 45 Italy A 17

A curiously-flat affair, which was rather strange given that the Saxons ran in seven tries in a thoroughly convincing display that will keep their elders and betters honest as they seek to turn Wales over later this week.

The sparse crowd didn’t help. But the reason the match never engaged completely was that it pretty much ran to script. That’s the curse of modern rugby. Most of the time teams play as expected. Surprises are few, frissons of excitement fewer still.

For an hour, Italy grabbed more of the ball and occupied most of the territory. Not that England were concerned.

They knew that they would use the ball they won far more imaginatively and productively than the Italians, and that Italy would eventually run out of steam. Not steam as in fitness.

The Italians actually scored the last try of the match as England turned to showboating. But steam as in some of the Italians becoming increasingly fed up with working so hard for so little reward.